Challenge Yourself discussion
Challenge Discussion
>
So how's the year working out for you?


Well, I'm doing better than I thought.
✔Serial Eyes = 100
✔Doorstops = 5
✔Shortcuts = 10
✔Chain Link Fence (got-connections) = 32
✔Left Over Stew = 10
✔Time Waits for No One (Harlem Renaissance) = 5
Double Dog Dare = 70 Will make it by year's end.
Shelving Unit (Sai King Recommends) = 20 Will make it by year's end.
Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die = 5 One more to go.
Hear Ye! Hear Ye! = 65 close, I'm pretty sure I have way exceeded this, but I always forget to mark the books as audio.
HOME ALONE = 30 I fail at this every year. Obviously the Grass is Greener on the Other Side!
World Tour = 25 I even cut this in half this year, and still am not likely to make it.
Authorization (Rock Bottom Remainders) = 24 I thought it was a good idea at the time!
✔Serial Eyes = 100
✔Doorstops = 5
✔Shortcuts = 10
✔Chain Link Fence (got-connections) = 32
✔Left Over Stew = 10
✔Time Waits for No One (Harlem Renaissance) = 5
Double Dog Dare = 70 Will make it by year's end.
Shelving Unit (Sai King Recommends) = 20 Will make it by year's end.
Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die = 5 One more to go.
Hear Ye! Hear Ye! = 65 close, I'm pretty sure I have way exceeded this, but I always forget to mark the books as audio.
HOME ALONE = 30 I fail at this every year. Obviously the Grass is Greener on the Other Side!
World Tour = 25 I even cut this in half this year, and still am not likely to make it.
Authorization (Rock Bottom Remainders) = 24 I thought it was a good idea at the time!

I'm looking forward to Friday. I'm going to spend time setting up my 2016 challenges. Woot!

I suffer from the same malady as I look at my bookcases full of books gathering dust.

Oh, well, there's always next year. I'll think about new goals tomorrow.
I was actually here on January 1st to "force"updates for our challenges and to publish our year-end recap and found that I was locked out of any updating. Got fed up with that, wrote a message to Goodreds Feedback and have had no response. So I stalled!
So here's the deal .... when you view the challenge statistics for your personal challenge, your stats may not be displayed correctly, however if you click on the blue link that shows x number of books out of your x number goal, you will be shown a page displaying the bookcovers for those books that you read. THAT SET of STATISTICS will be correct. This will not be the ones that show on your home page profile though.
Also, in the past, I used the previous year's challenge widgets to setup for the new year, because the expired ones can not be archived. This avoided the clutter of all years showing up intermingled on the page....just reset the dates and started over.
This year, because I am "locked out", I won't be able to do this. So I will be setting up the 2016 challenges, from scratch, as additional files. I recommend that you use the 2016 catalog to find your challenges to avoid the mass of confusion. Give me the day to get these set up.
Sorry no recap for everybody from me, but at least 2015 will still be there for you to review for a while.
So here's the deal .... when you view the challenge statistics for your personal challenge, your stats may not be displayed correctly, however if you click on the blue link that shows x number of books out of your x number goal, you will be shown a page displaying the bookcovers for those books that you read. THAT SET of STATISTICS will be correct. This will not be the ones that show on your home page profile though.
Also, in the past, I used the previous year's challenge widgets to setup for the new year, because the expired ones can not be archived. This avoided the clutter of all years showing up intermingled on the page....just reset the dates and started over.
This year, because I am "locked out", I won't be able to do this. So I will be setting up the 2016 challenges, from scratch, as additional files. I recommend that you use the 2016 catalog to find your challenges to avoid the mass of confusion. Give me the day to get these set up.
Sorry no recap for everybody from me, but at least 2015 will still be there for you to review for a while.
Here's how I did this year. (2015)
How about you?
✔ Hear Ye! Hear Ye! =71/ 65
✔ Serial Eyes = 140/100
✔ Doorstops = 14/5
✔ Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die = 6/5
✔ Shortcuts =34/ 20
✔ Double Dog Dare = 68/70
✔Shelving Unit (Sai King Recommends) = 22/20
✔Chain Link Fence (got-connections) =28/26 (Challenge started in October for actual 32 books read)
✔ LEFT OVER STEW = 14/10
✘ HOME ALONE = 11/30< PITIFUL!!!
✔DEWEY'S DEPOSITORY = 125/120
(Probably a lot more. I always forget to indicate this shelf.)
✘Yearbook = 119/120
(This is really 99/120 because some the the years were over read, while others did not reach the goal.)
✘ Authorization (Rock Bottom Remainders) = 2/24 (Obviouslly not focusing here!)
✔Time Waits for No One (Harlem Renaissance) = 5/5
✘In A Land Far Far Away = 22/25
How about you?
✔ Hear Ye! Hear Ye! =71/ 65
✔ Serial Eyes = 140/100
✔ Doorstops = 14/5
✔ Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die = 6/5
✔ Shortcuts =34/ 20
✔ Double Dog Dare = 68/70
✔Shelving Unit (Sai King Recommends) = 22/20
✔Chain Link Fence (got-connections) =28/26 (Challenge started in October for actual 32 books read)
✔ LEFT OVER STEW = 14/10
✘ HOME ALONE = 11/30< PITIFUL!!!
✔DEWEY'S DEPOSITORY = 125/120
(Probably a lot more. I always forget to indicate this shelf.)
✘Yearbook = 119/120
(This is really 99/120 because some the the years were over read, while others did not reach the goal.)
✘ Authorization (Rock Bottom Remainders) = 2/24 (Obviouslly not focusing here!)
✔Time Waits for No One (Harlem Renaissance) = 5/5
✘In A Land Far Far Away = 22/25

[ ]Another chance Goal = 2/5
[X] Doorstops Goal = 22/15
[X] Edingus Goal = 37/20
[X] Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Goal = 69/50
[ ] Home Alone Goal =7/10
[X] Hot Off The Press Goal = 12/5
[X] Serial Eyes Goal = 63/20

[X] And the Award Goes To = 19/18
[X] Doorstops = 20/18
[X] Hot Off the Press = 160/125
[X] Left Over Stew = 50/50
[X] Reality Check = 101/100
[X] Shelving Unit = 206/200
[X] Shortcut = 381/365

OUCH! I hope things get cleared up at some point. Sooner than later, of course. Thanks for your work getting 2016 set up. If there is anything I can do to help, let me know!
Oooh! Do I hear something squeaking?
Most of them I barely made. Both of you also.
Hey, but we did make them right? :o)
Most of them I barely made. Both of you also.
Hey, but we did make them right? :o)

✘ Chain link fence 11/12. I really enjoyed this one, and I'm looking forward to doing it again
✔ Serial Eyes 20/18. Go me!!
✘ Another chance 0/3. Apparently I don't believe in second chances.
✔ Reality Check 6/5 Yay for craft books!
✔ Where's Your Card 42/40
✘ Left Over Stew 4/6 Whoops.
✔ GR Authorization 30/30
✘ Shelving Unit 12/15 Whoops.
✔ Authorization 19/15
✔ Hear Ye 20/20
So.... reasonably happy. Time to think about 2016!
Darkpool (protesting GR censorship) wrote: "Mixed results here...
✘ Chain link fence 11/12. I really enjoyed this one, and I'm looking forward to doing it again next year this year...."
This is my favorite Challenge Yourself task. It involves a little more than just a book tally.
✘ Chain link fence 11/12. I really enjoyed this one, and I'm looking forward to doing it again next year this year...."
This is my favorite Challenge Yourself task. It involves a little more than just a book tally.
Darkpool (protesting GR censorship) wrote:
"✘ Another chance 0/3. Apparently I don't believe in second chances...."
So many books, so little time! Why go backward? ☻
"✘ Another chance 0/3. Apparently I don't believe in second chances...."
So many books, so little time! Why go backward? ☻

Most of them I barely made. Both of you also.
Hey, but we did make them right? :o)"
Definitely squeaking going on. But a squeaky finish is still a finish, so celebrate!

I'm doing much better than expected but the majority of my reading has been short poetry books. Only 2 (one was over 800 pages so I'm proud at myself for that one) have been 'actual' novels!
Elle wrote: "Howdy folks! How goes the challenges?
I'm doing much better than expected but the majority of my reading has been short poetry books. Only 2 (one was over 800 pages so I'm proud at myself for that..."
I feel so unfocused. I don't think I am reading anything that would help me reach my challenge goals! I knew I was using January to catch up on goals I had missed in 2015, but now it is March and I don't feel the forward momentum yet.
Poetry does not catch my attention (unless it's a limerick). It sounds as though you are doing well with it.
Keep up the good work!☺
I'm doing much better than expected but the majority of my reading has been short poetry books. Only 2 (one was over 800 pages so I'm proud at myself for that..."
I feel so unfocused. I don't think I am reading anything that would help me reach my challenge goals! I knew I was using January to catch up on goals I had missed in 2015, but now it is March and I don't feel the forward momentum yet.
Poetry does not catch my attention (unless it's a limerick). It sounds as though you are doing well with it.
Keep up the good work!☺

I'm doing much better than expected but the majority of my reading has been short poetry books. Only 2 (one was over 800 pages so I'm proud at my..."
(At first read, I thought you were saying that one of your "short" poetry books was over 800 pages. Which would make your other poetry books even more impressive in length!)
Sounds like your "actual novels" are pretty intense, so maybe the poetry is just what you need to balance things out!
Personally, I'm behind almost everywhere. I've been reading a lot, just seems to be stuff that doesn't count much towards a few specific goals. We're still in the first quarter of the year, though, so lots o room for improvement!

We do, indeed, have plenty of time left :)
At least you both are reading - that's the main thing!

I have 16 books on my currently reading shelf, so I am hoping that pretty soon I will be able to log a whole batch of them for my challenges.



Now that makes sense! If our minds can handle various tv plots, why not book plots?
Interestingly, I've always been a one-book-at-a-time reader. (Except for the Bible and the Book of Mormon, which I'm always reading.) But recently I keep finding myself with 6-7 books on my currently reading list. And my head isn't exploding. Weird!
I too easily get distracted. I see an interesting book and MUST have it right now. No patience to wait until a time when my shelf is less full of current projects. The stack can get overwhelming.

I relate to that so much! I just counted up the new audiobooks I've purchased since January 1 and was shocked. 20!
I'm on track or ahead for most of my challenges. I have just started my first book for "Another Chance". I'm wondering if 5 books as my goal is too high. LOL! As for "Where's Your Library Card", I have one book to go to complete my goal and I will start it today.
Janice wrote: "Almeta wrote: "I too easily get distracted. I see an interesting book and MUST have it right now. No patience to wait until a time when my shelf is less full of current projects. The stack can get ..."
Sounds as though you are much better focused!☺
Sounds as though you are much better focused!☺

Personally, I'm roughly on-target in "doorstoppers", "And the Award Goes To", "Double Dog Dare", and "Help Yourself".
Happily, I'm significantly ahead in "Shelving Unit", "Short Cut", "Back in the Saddle", and "Hot Off the Press".
Sadly, I'm dangerously behind in "Leftover Stew" and "Classics".
Overall, I think I'm averaging well.
And Happy 4th to all, Happy Independence Day to some. :)

One book more in "Doorstops" and "That's Unreal" will complete those two challenges.
I may not finish "Another Chance" and "Home Alone" at the rate those two are going.
The others are pretty much on track, if not slightly ahead.

I'm not behind on any, but I think I was very conservative in my goals this year. I've even completed a few. Thanks for posting this, I haven't been paying attention to these challenges and I think I'll make some changes when I have time.

I think Almeta can go in and change the end date to December 31, 2016.

I'm doing pretty well on my Home Alone challenge. I'm one book ahead on that one.
However, I'm two books behind on my other challenge: Shelving Unit. I was doing well during the earlier part of the year, but have really slowed down since the summer started. The drawbacks of the academic life, maybe!

I'm doing pretty well on my Home Alone challenge. I'm one book ahead on that one.
However, I'm two books behind on my other challenge: Shelving Unit. I was doing well during the earl..."
Academic schedules make it really hard to be consistent, for sure!

Academic schedules are insane, I feel that pain. I am finishing up my Masters this year. It was months and months of insane travel and planning and now being glued to a computer. I finished my first book last night since May... MAY.
I'm hopefully getting stuck into my challenges again as I wind down from a crazy few months but I don't see myself finishing a few.
Hope everyone is well.








✔ And the Award Goes to 17/10 (170%) Yay!
X Back in the Saddle 1/5 (20%) Not even on the horse
X Doorstoppers 3/6 (50%) Got tired before I even started
X Double Dog Dare 7/10 (70%) Got distracted too many times
X eDingus 6/10 (60%) Could have done better here
X Home Alone 0/15 (0%) And my real shelves are groaning!
X Left Over Stew 1/10 (10%) Terrible ! And now I have more to add
✔ Serial Eyes 30/30 (100%) Yes!!
✔ That's Unreal - Historical Fiction 21/20 (105%) Yay!
✔ Where's Your Card 53/20 (265%) Got this one.
I'm definitely going to have to make some adjustments for 2017.

Good idea, Purple. It ain't over until it is over.
Roz wrote: "Here's my final tally:
✔ And the Award Goes to 17/10 (170%) Yay!
X Back in the Saddle 1/5 (20%) Not even on the horse
X Doorstoppers 3/6 (50%) Got tired before I even started
X Double Dog Dare..."
Love your comments Roz! ☺
✔ And the Award Goes to 17/10 (170%) Yay!
X Back in the Saddle 1/5 (20%) Not even on the horse
X Doorstoppers 3/6 (50%) Got tired before I even started
X Double Dog Dare..."
Love your comments Roz! ☺
I am going through all of my challenges now, to force some updates. I hope that I don't have to do that to very many.
I am feeling pretty confident on most of them. Home Alone is likely to be a failure again. I tell myself that I should stop setting that goal...BUT REALLY that is the one challenge to which I SHOULD be paying close attention!☻
I am feeling pretty confident on most of them. Home Alone is likely to be a failure again. I tell myself that I should stop setting that goal...BUT REALLY that is the one challenge to which I SHOULD be paying close attention!☻
Books mentioned in this topic
David Copperfield (other topics)The Travels of Marco Polo (other topics)
Rubaiyat (other topics)
The Art of War (other topics)
There Might Be Lobsters (other topics)
More...
Personally, I've finished 3 challenges, plus I'm on track for 2 other challenges, and I'm still sadly behind on another 2 challenges. I'm hoping to get a lot of reading done over Thanksgiving in a couple of weeks and maybe catch-up. Fun, fun!